As the weather warms up and more people head outdoors, the Wales Wildfire Board is urging everyone to take precautions to prevent wildfires during the spring and summer months.

The #WildfireWise campaign encourages people to be aware of the risks, especially as conditions become dry in the countryside. In 2024, fire services across Wales attended 977 grass fires, a decrease of 47 per cent from the previous year. However, authorities stress the ongoing dangers posed by wildfires and the importance of being vigilant.

Locally, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has been tackling a high number of grass fires. In the past month, crews responded to incidents in Brecon, Llanafan Fawr, Llangors, Cwmdu, Llanwrthwl, Halfway, Cwmdauddwr and Builth Wells, just to name a few. It prompted the service at the time to appeal to the public to only call 999 if life or property was in immediate danger, citing an “extremely high number of calls” related to grass fires.

Andrew Wright, Chair of the Wales Wildfire Board, said the campaign is based on years of experience in dealing with wildfires.

“We are encouraging all members of our communities to respect our countryside and play their part in safeguarding our environment and keeping our communities safe,” he said.

“It is vitally important that we all continue to work together to build a healthier, more resilient and increasingly biodiverse landscape here in Wales, doing what we can to protect this precious resource for the future.”

While some wildfires are accidental, others are deliberately set, creating unnecessary strain on emergency services and endangering lives.

“While accidents do happen, they are also avoidable,” said Mr Wright.

“Our Wildfire Wise campaign focuses on educating us all on some of the small steps we can take to ensure we don’t accidentally cause a grass fire to ignite.”

The Wales Wildfire Board is keen to work with farmers, landowners, and communities to share knowledge on how to prevent both accidental and deliberate fires.

Mr Wright added: “We understand that controlled burns can have a positive effect on the environment, creating biodiversity and a sustainable ecosystem and we are available for free advice on how to do this safely.”

Officials are urging people to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or call 101. In emergencies, always call 999.

Find out more by visiting #WildfireWise where you can also access some simple safety tips and download the campaign’s safety messages.